Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20
Natural Casa Biologists Letter


The following very interesting letter
should attract attention. 1t indicates
on the part of its writer accurate and
full knowledge of the subject which he
treats. He tells where and how natural
Gas is stored and likely to be stored
expresses the opinion that it will not be
found in paying quantities in Chester
field shows perfect familiarity with the
geology of our coal region, and makes
the valuable suggestion that coal Is
probably to be found in the unexplored
region named by him. We return
our thanks to Professor RUSSELL. His
letter is as follows:
WASHINGTON, February Is, 1887.
TO tie Editor Of the Dispatch:
Dear Sir,-The very favorable views
expressed in the letter printed in your
issue of February 9Th Mr.. Atkins in
reference to the existence OF natural
gas in economic quantities at Midlo-
THAN and Clover Hill, Va, seem open
to aerious objections.
II natural gas is to be had at these
localities the question may naturally be
asked, why does it not issue from the
shafts at Midlothian which have been
long abandoned, and why was it not
discovered during the sinking of drill
holes at the same place a few years
since. some of which reached depth
of over 1900 feet
The difficulty of mining in the Rich
mond coalfeld, owing to the presence
of Gas, assures one that the supply Is
ample. could it he accumulated. In
order to have natural gas in available
quantities, however, o source OF sup
ply is not the only requisite. The coal
and carbOnaceous shale from which tue
gas originates has to be covered by
porous or assures rocks which may act
as q reservoir, and these in turn must
be covered by close-grained rocks,
which can retain the gas under high
pressure. Owing to extensive faulting
and crushing OF the rocks holding the
coal along the eastern border of the
coalfeld where Midlothian and Glover
Hill are situated, the gas has not accu-
INFLATED. but has escaped and been diff
fused through the associated rocks.
| The fact that the coal bearing rocks IN
this region are inclined at high angle
and outcrop at the surface is enough to
show that gas cannot be expected to
exist under high pressure near the line
Of outcrop.
If we examine the western border of
the Richmond coalfeld, as at Dover and
Norwood, repetition of the conditions
to be seen at Midlothian, etc, will be
found, with the exception that the pre-
vailing downward slope of the beds, or
their dip. is eastward instead of west
ward. The extensive disturbances that
have affected the rocks in the vicinity
of these lines of outcrop render 1T evi.
dent that natural gas cannot be expected
to occur in economic quantities near the
borders of the field. In the central
norton of the coal bearing area, how
ever. the rocks are less disturbed and
Dresent conditions which are much more
favorable for obtaining gas supply
In the central region the rocks are
neatly fat, or perhaps depressed more
at the centre than ut the sides, thu
forming a gentle synclinal. 1.-THE pres
ence of an upward fold in the rocks i
necessary for the storage of gas, as ad
yocated by certain biologists, then th'
conditions in this region are not who'll.
favorable. Farther than this, the alter
mating of porous and impervious bed
above the gas.producing Goals and car
bonaceous shales has also to be con
sidered.
To test the question of natural-ga
supply, and at the same time determine
the thickness and value of the coalbed
in the central portion of the Richmond
coalfeld, one or more diamond dril
holes should be sunk midway between
Midlothian and Dover, or else nea
Marlborough, on the line of the Rich
mond and Danville railroad. Exami
nations of this character should be car
RED downward to the granite rock
which underlie the evenly-bedded sand
stones and shales accompanying tn
coal. which most likely have depth @
from 1000 to $500 feet.
The geological evidence is such as t
indicate the presence OF valuable Goa
seams in this unexplored region, thu
making it doubly desirable that thol
ough exploration should be made.
i remain, very respectfully,
: ISRAEL G. RUSSELL,
= United States Geological Survey.